Floor rack



' s. B.' HASLTiNE u I 2,315,202

FLoR RACK l Fi'ld May 9,!1940 Maid] 30,1943. I

2 *sheets-sheet 1 v .Inventor Bzaey'BHaseltze March 30, 1943. s. B.. HAsELTlNE 2,315,202 f FLOOR RmxY Filed May 9, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 ljatentecl Mar. 30, 1943 l Blazer UNITED STATES PATENT-FFICE FLOOR RACK Stacy B.

W. H. Miner, of Delaware Haseltine, La Grange, Ill., assigner to Inc., Chicago, lll., a corporation Application May 9, 1940, Serial No. 334,213

7 Claims.

rugged hinge means which is connected to the` car in such a manner as to be readily detachable from the latter.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide hinge means for floor racks comprising a minimum number of parts which may be fabricated at low cost. y

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appearfrorn the description and claims hereinafter following. y

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion' of the side wall of a car. show-v ing a portion of a floor rack in plan and illustrating my improvements in connection therewith, the section being substantially on the line l-l of Figure 2. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view,

corresponding substantially to the line 3--3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 4 4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a view similar to FigureZ,-

illustrating another embodiment of the invention, the` section in Figure 5 being substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 6. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 5 6 of Figure 5. Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the side wall of a car showing a broken portion of a iioor rack in plan and illustrating still another embodiment of the invention,the section corresponding substantially to the line 1-1 of Figure 8. Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

In said drawings, I0 indicates generally one of the side walls of a refrigerator car, Il the floor of the car, and l2 a portion of the usual floor rack. As is Well known to those skilled in this art, the usual refrigerator car is provided with bulkheads or transverse partitions at opposite ends which separate the ice compartments from the remainder oi the car, and-thespace between the bulkheads serves to accommodate the lading. When the car is used for lading requiring elevation from the floor, the entire floor spacey between the bulk heads is covered by the floor rack structure. It is common practice to emploi7 a floor rack structure composed of a plurality of separate sections comprising two sets, the sets being divided lengthwise of the car and each set being dividedtransversely of the car into individual sections. rlhe part of the floor rack hereinbefore referred to, and which is indicated by I2, is a portion of one of the individual sections of the rack.

As shown in the drawings, each floor racksection l2 comprises spaced transverse slats I3 secured to laterally spaced supporting beams or stringers I4. Each section l2 thus forms a unit and in accordance with my invention is arranged for bodily removal from the car.

Referring rst to the embodiment of the in,- vention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, each floor rack section l2 is connected to the corresponding wall lil of the car by my improved detachable hinge connection indicated broadly by A, which supports the floor rack section along the outer edge at a plurality of points for swinging movement, the hinge means being directly sup ported on and connected to the wall l0 of the.

car.

My improved supporting hinge connection A comprises broadly a supporting keeper B ,iiXedy ber or arm D pivotally connected to the eye bolts and detachably secured to the supporting keeper B.

The keeper B is preferably in the form of a casting having a socket portion l5 of rectangular boxlike form provided with a surrounding, laterally projecting flange I6 by which the same is iixed to the car wall. The keeper B is seated in a recess Il provided inthe wall iD, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and is secured in place and fixed to the wall l0 by screws lil-i8, or similar securing elements, extending through thevflange I6 and into the wall HLthe flange I6 being set into the wall so that the outer face of the keeper is flush with the inner face of said wall. The recess IT .in which the keeper B is seated is preferably in the form of a cylindrical opening having its side wall notched at four points, as indicated at Ill-l 9, to t the four corners of the rectangular boxlike socket and thereby secure the keeper against rotation. At the flanged end of the keeper the boxlike socket thereof is provided with a substantially rectangular mouth or opening 20 which is of substantially the same width as the socket. At the lower side oi the mouth 20the keeper is provided with` an upstanding, relatively thick, short wall 2| which rises slightly above the bottom wall of the socket I and extends continuously from one side to the other of the opening 20. The upper edge of the wall ZI is downwardly and outwardly inclined or beveled, as indicated at 22. The upper wall of the socket I 5 is provided on the interior thereof with a depending retaining lug or stop 23 which is located on the right hand side of the socket, as shown in Figure 3, thus leaving an opening 24 at the left hand side of said socket to accommodate the cooperating portion of the hinge arm, as hereinafter pointed out. 'Ihe rear face of the lug 23v is spaced from the back wall of the socket, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, and has its rear face slightly rounded concavely to. provide al seat 25.. The. underneath face 26 of the. lug. 2.3 is. forwardly and. upwardly inclined frinn` the seat 2 5. tothe open end of the socket and terminates flush with the upper edge wall of the opening Z4.

The supportingy eye bolts C-C, which are preferably two inv number, are. secured to the outermost Stringer I4. of the floor rack section.. Each eye bolt comprises a circular or ring-like eye portion V2"v and a threaded shank 23 provided with the usual securing nut 29. The shank of each eye bolt C1 extends through the stringer I4 yand washers 311-30 are .preferably interposed between the stringer I4 and the eye 2'I and nut 23A of the same. The eye bolts C-C are located at the Same. level, close tribut spaced .slightly below, the bottom sides of the slats. Is-is. The two .eye bolts, C-C form'l bearing `means for the hinge member or arm D and have the openings Qi the eyes thereof in transverse, horizontal alignment. The eyev bolts are, laterally spacedapart the prope1: distance to accommodate the. pivot portion of the hinge member 0r arm D., as hereinafter pointed out.

The hinge member D is in the form 0f a bent bar o f cylindrical cross, section, the diameter of thev bar being such as to. rotatably lit Within the openings ci the eye members 2I-21 of the. eye bolts C-AC. As clearly shown in Figure 4, each arm .comprises a horizontally disposedbearing section 3| journaled inthe eye members 27-21 of the eye .bolts a depending right angularly bent leg section 32.1 at the left hand end of the bearing section. 3| continuous. with said section 13|, a horizontally disposed, right angularly bent foot section 33 at the lower end ofthe section 32, which extends in the same direction as the section 3I and is continuous with said section 32, and a right angularly 'bent hinge arm. section proper 34 at the right hand end of. the sectionl. and

continuous therewith. 'The hinge. 'alimY section 34,y

as shown most. clearly in, Figure 2J extends toward and into the keeper B and has its. outer extremity bent ai; right angles to provide a relatively short hook 35 engaged in back of. the stop. or lug 23 of the keeper, asshown in .Figures 1., 2, and 3. As shown in Figure 2, when theA hinge memberl) is engaged with the keeper B, the. leg sectionftz is. disposed substantially verticallyywhile the. ann 34 is inclinedupwardly away Vfrom. the rack I2. A s shown in Figure 1 the hinge member D is supported by the eye bolts C-C in such. a position that the arm section 34 swings freely between the corresponding two adjacent slats of, the rack I2.

When the rack section is operatively Connected "to the side wall of the car for swinging movement, the foot section 33 rests on the door II of the car and the arm section 34 is in hooked engagement with the lug 23 of the keeper B, the hook 35 of the hinge member being held seated against the seat through the ann section 34 being held in raised or inclined position :by engagement with the beveled upper face 22 of the wall 2l of the keeper on which the arm rests to maintain the hooked end of said arm seated against the seating face 25 on the lug 23.

When the rack section I2 is swung upwardly against the side wall of the car, the same will hinge on the bearing section 3| of the hinge member D with the weight of the rack section supported by the leg 32 and foot 33 resting on the iioor of the car. The connection of the hinge member Dwith the keeper is thus relieved from strain and the arm of the hinge member D is prevented from becoming, disengaged from the keeper, inasmuch as said arm 34 cannot drop down as long as the foot 33 rests on the floor of the car.

To disengage the rack section I 2 from the wall I0 forremoval of the rack from the car, the rack section is raised and tilted, elevating the outer edge, thus permitting the arm 34 to swing downwardly through the action of gravity andv clear the lug 23 of the keeper. With the inner edge of the rack thus raised and the hinge arm disengaged from the lug of the keeper, the rack section is pulled bodily away from the wall. of the car, thereby completely withdrawing the arm from engagement-With the keeper. The disengaged rack sec- I tion may then be removed from the car.

To` connect the rack section to the side wall of the car, substantially a reverse procedure is followed. The rack section to be connected placed with the hinge end thereof closely adjacent the sidewall of the car. With the rack section raised and tilted to the proper extent, thev hinge arm will assume a position to align with the opening of the keeper, the leg section 32 being free to swing on account of the foot 33 having been raised` from the floor of the car. In this connection it is pointed out that the downward swinging action of the arm 34 is positively limited by engagement of the foot end of the leg section of the hinge member with the vertical side face of the Stringer I4, the Stringer thus acting as a stopfmember.. With the arm 34 held stationary with respect to the rack by the stop action of the leg section 32, the rack which is still in raised and tilted position is pushed toward the wall of the car to insert the hooked end 35 of the arm 34 into the keeper B. As the arm 34 is pushed into the keeper socket, the hooked end 35 of said arm is cammed downwardly by the inclined underneath face. 26 of the lug 23, thereby guiding the hook to position the same in back of said lug. As soon as the hooked portion clears the rear end of the lug 23, the rack section is brought down to rest on the floor. As this position is assumed, the arm 34 rocks over the edge 22 of the wall'. 2| of the keeper, thus raising the hook 35 to a position behind the lug 23 and locking the rack securely thereto.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, my improved hinged connection comprises broadly a keeper E, supporting eye bolts F-F and a hinge arm G.

The supporting eye bolts FF are identical with the eye bolts C-C hereinbefore described and4 have the eye and shank portions and the securing nuts thereof also indicated by 21, 28, and 29, respectively. Washers 30-30 are also preferably interposed between the Stringer I4 and the eyes and nuts of the eye bolts F-F.

The hinge arm G is similar to the hinge arm D hereinbefore described except as hereinafter pointed out, including a horizontal bearing section similar to the section 3|, and also indicated by 3|, a depending leg section similar to the leg section 32, and also indicated by 32, a foot section similar to the foot section 33, and also indicated by 33, and an arm section similar to the arm section 34, and also indicated by 34. The hinge member G differs from the hinge member D in that the arm section 34 of the former has the extremity thereof bent downwardly to form a depending hook 36 which cooperates with the keeper E, and that the leg section 32 is inclined to the vertical, as shown in Figure 5, to bear on an upwardly curved section at the edge extremity of the floor cover plate, which upwardly curved section is indicated by 31.

The pivotal connection of the hinge member G with the eye bolts F-F is precisely the same as the connection of the arm D with the eye bolts C-C described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

The keeper E comprises a socket member 38 open at the front side having an annular securing flange 39. The socket member 33 is of generally cylindrical boxlike form having a downwardly extending, substantially radially oiset pocket section 46 at the bottom side provided with a relatively thick, upstanding front wall 4I forming a shoulder for engagement by the hook 35. The upper edge of the wall 4| is preferably rounded 01T, as shown in Figure 5, to properly intert with the curvature of the curved portion of the hook 3E. The keeper E is set into the wall I of the car with its outer face ush with the inner surface of said wall and is held in place by screws or similar securing elements extending through the ange 3S.

As shown in Figure 5, the hoek 35 is engaged in the pocket 43 in back of the wall 4| to anchor the iloor rack section to the side wall of the car. When the rack section is swung upwardly to fold the same against the side wall of the car, it pivots on the bearing section 3| of the hinge member, the leg section 32 supporting said member. Inasmuch as the leg section 32 is at an inclination, the pressure exerted thereon due to the weight of the rack section imparts an outward pulling force on the arm 34 and its hook 35, thereby rmly holding the hook seated against the shoulder formed by the wall 4| of the keeper.

To disengage the hooked end 36 of the hinge arm or member G to permit removal of the rack section, the rack section is raised upwardly until the hook clears the shoulder 4| of the keeper. The rack is then pulled away from the wall HJ to completely withdraw the arm section 34 of the hinge arm G from the keeper.

To connect the rack section to the car wall substantially the reverse procedure is followed, the hook being engaged within the pocket 4S and over the stop wall 4| of the keeper.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, my improved hinge connection comprises broadly a pair of keepers H-H, a pair of supporting eye bolts J-J, and a hinge member K.

The keepers H-H are two in number and with the exception that they are right and left hand are identical with the keeper B described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. The various parts of the keepers H-H, being identical with the corresponding parts of the keeper B, are indicated by the same reference characters as employed for these parts in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

The eye bolts J-J are identical with the eye bolts C-C, hereinbefore described, and the parts thereof` are indicated by the same reference characters as used in 'connection with said eye bolts C-C. Y

' The hinge member K is in the form of a bent bar of cylindrical cross section, the diameter of the bar being such as to rotatably nt the bearing openings of the eye members 21 of the eye bolts J-J. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the hinge member K comprises an elongated, horizontally disposed bearing section |3| journaled in the eye members 21-21 of the bolts J--J and right angularly bent arm sections |34|34 at opposite ends of the bearing section |3I. The arm sections |34|34 extend in the same direction, thus giving the hinge member K a substantially U- shaped contour. The arm sections |34--I34 and hooked ends |35|35 are identical with the hooked end of the arm 34 of the hinge member D hereinbefore described, with the exception that the hooked ends |35 are respectively right and left to properly cooperate with the right and left keepers H-H.

In disconnecting the raak from the side wall of the car, the rack section is lifted until the arms l S13- |34 drop sufciently through the action of gravity to clear the lugs 23-23 of the keepers HH. The rack section is then pulled away from the wall to completely withdraw the arms |3-l34 of the hinge member K from the keepers H--I-I. To connect the rack section to the car walls, substantially the reverse procedure is followed, the hooked ends ISS-|35 of the arm sections |34-l34 being engaged with the keepers H--H while the rack section is in raised position so that the arms |34--I 34 will ride over the walls 2|-2l of the keepers and the hooked ends M55- |35 will pass between the walls 2|2| and the lugs 23-23 to bring the hooked ends |35| 35 into alignment with the spaces between the lugs 23-23 and the rear wall of the socket so that as the rack section is lowered the hooked ends IBS- |35 will engage in back of said lugs to secure the rack section to the keeper when the rack section has been lowered onto the floor.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and 1 contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a oor rack structure including a separate rack section for a refrigerator car having a side wall, the combination with a socketed keeper fixed to said wall; of supporting eye members xed to the rack section and having the openings of the eyes in axial alignment; and a onepiece hinge member pivotally connected to said rack and anchored to the keeper, said hinge member comprising a continuous cylindrical bar having the opposite end portions thereof bent at right angles to the intermediate portion thereof, said intermediate portion being journaled in the openings of the eye members with the angularly bent portions laterally outwardly of said eyes and forming stops to limit endwise movement of said hinge members and one of said right angularlyv bent portions having a hook at its eX- tremity anchored in the socket of said keeper, whereby said rack section is mounted for swinging movementl by said first named portion to fold against the side wall of the car.

2. In a floor rack structure including a separate rack section for a refrigerator car having a side wall, the combination with a keeper fixed to said side wall; of a pair of supporting eye members Xed to the rack section and having the openings of the eyes thereof in horizontal alignment; and a one-piece, hinge member comprising a continuous, cylindrical bar having a section thereof journaled in the openings of said eye members, said section being substantially straight, a second straight section continuous with one end of said first named bar section and depending therefrom and resting on the floor of the car, and a third Section continuous with the other end of said rst named bar section and extending at right angles thereto, and into said keeper and having at; its extremity a hooked portion in shouldered engagementr with the keeper whereby said rack is mounted for swinging movement by the first named section of the bar to fold against the side wall of the car, said right angular end sections embracing said eye members to retain said hinge member against endwise displacement.

3. In a floor rack structure including a separate rack section for a refrigerator car having a side wall, the combination with a pair of keepers fixed to said side wall; of a pair of supporting eyes fixed to the rack section and having the openings of the eyes thereof in horizontal alignment; and a one-piece hinge member comprising a continuous cylindrical bar having its opposite end sections bent laterally at right angles to the intermediate section to provide hinge arms. said intermediate section being journaled in the openings of the eyes and said end sections having hooked extremities anchored to said keepers whereby said rack is mounted for swinging movement byV said intermediate section of the bar to fold against the side wall of the car, said right angular end sections embracing said eye members to retain said hinge member against endwise displacement.

4. In a floor rack structure including a separate rack section for a refrigerator car having a side wall, the combination with a socketed keeper fixed to the car wall, said keeperV having an upstanding retaining shoulder; of a hinge arm pivoted toy said rack section, said arm having a downturned hooked end engaged with said upstanding shoulder of the keeper, said arm having a supporting leg rigid therewith, said legengaging the floor to supporty said hinge arm, said leg being inclined upwardly' away from the car wall to exert a pulling action on said arm away from said wall, to hold said hooked end engaged with saidr shoulder under pressure during swinging movementV of the rack section about the pivot of the hinge member.

5. In a, oor rack structure including a separate rack section fora refrigerator car having a side wall, the combination with a socketed keeper secured to said side wall; of a hinge arm pivoted at one end to said rack section, said arm having a laterally projecting lug at the other end detachably engageable with said keeper; a supporting leg rigid with the hinged end of said arm for supporting; the hinged portion of said arm during swinging movement of said rack section about the pivot of the hinge member; and a shoulder on said keeper engaging beneath said arm to holdA the arm against downward swinging movement about said lug.

6. Ina refrigerator car having a side wall and a floor, the combination with a removable floor rack section adapted to rest on the floor; of a socketed keeper on the car Wall, said keeper having an interior retaining lug depending from the top wall thereof, said lug having an inclined bottom cam face, an upstanding supporting wall on said keeper below said lug; and a hinge arm pivoted at one end to said rack, said arm having a laterally projecting lug at the other end detachably engaged in back of the lug of the keeper when the rack section is resting on the floor, said arm being supported on said upstanding wall of the keeper to hold the same against downward swinging movement away from said lug.

7. In a refrigerator car having a side wall and hoor, the combination with a removable floor rack section adapted to rest on said floor; of a xed vertically disposed keeper having an open mouthed pocket said keeper being xed to the car side wall, said keeper having a supporting ledge at the bottom of said mouth; a depending interior retaining lug at the top of said pocket, said lug being spaced from the rear wall of the socket; and an arm hinged at one end to said rack section and having a laterally projecting hook at its extremity adapted to pass freely through the space between said supporting ledge and lug and be engaged in back of said lug to anchor the arm to said keeper, said arm being supported from beneath by said supporting ledge to maintain said hook engaged with said lug when said rack section is resting on the oor.

STACY B. HASELTINE. 

